Choosing a Major

I wanted to write a brief post about last week’s blog topic, choosing a major.

I had first approached this problem from the “Well, what subject do you like best in school?” angle, and that had initially led me to history. I figured I could teach high school with it, and all would be well. That was the plan – until I took “Intro to Classroom Teaching.” I realized that as much as I like to think of myself as a patient person, I simply don’t have the attention span being a teacher requires. That helped me realize I need a job that can keep me on my feet and moving around.

Up to this point, I had been working in the IT department at my high school (Rosati-Kain, if you’re curious). When people asked where I worked, I would tell them and then bashfully add, “It doesn’t even feel like a job.” And I was serious. At first, I thought it didn’t feel like a job because I really liked my co-workers and former teachers, and I felt comfortable there, which certainly wouldn’t happen in my limited perception of a job. After failing at being a teacher, though, I rethought things. I realized that my part-time job doesn’t feel like a job because I genuinely enjoy what I do when I’m at work – fixing printers, crawling under desks to plug Ethernet cables back into their switches, rearranging wires in the server cabinet, installing wireless access points here and there, maintaining existing equipment, I could go on and on. The variety of tasks that I get presented with every day I go in keeps me interested and there’s a huge element of challenge that comes with the job.

So, to figure out what I need to major in in order to have get a job in an IT department, I looked at job-openings results on different Saint Louis companies’ websites to see what institutions look at when they’re hiring IT people. Generally, it’s some kind of computer-science or information-management degree, and I decided to go with computer science. I’m getting into some upper level classes now, and I really like what I’m learning.

My advice: Experiment to figure out what you like and what you don’t like. I was lucky enough to have taken that teacher course relatively early on in my time at Fontbonne, and it was a real wake-up call that I was headed in the wrong direction by pursuing teaching as a career. Experimenting as a worker in the IT department at my high school was a another message, one that helped me know I’m on the path to what I think will be an enjoyable career.

Our Writers

Hello! My name is Mari and I am a freshman at Fontbonne. I am from Kansas City (Go Royals!). At FBU, I am involved in the GAP (Griffins Achieving Progress) program and I am the treasurer for the Latino Hispanic Union. I enjoy watching Gilmore Girls and trying new foods from different cultures.

Hi! My name is Cecelia Meyer and I am a transfer freshman here at Fontbonne, currently majoring in social sciences/strategic communications! I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO but I am a southern belle at heart! I can blow your mind with my history trivia skills. You can find me drinking a strong cup of coffee, listening to some Frank Sinatra, while color coding my over-sized agenda.

My name is Anna and I am excited to share some fun details about life at Fontbonne and in the St. Louis area with you! I'm currently a freshman majoring in dietetics, I love to be outside, and I am a strong Christian!

Hey everyone! My name is Taylor and I'm currently a Senior here at Fontbonne studying dietetics with future aspirations of working with pro athletes in the field of sports nutrition. I can't wait to share my thoughts with you!

I graduated from Fontbonne in 2012 with a BA in Human Service and am currently a grad student once again at Fontbonne studying for my MS in Instructional Design & Technology (IDT). I'm a mother of 2 wonderful young men ages 17 years & 15 years old. I love working as an independent contracting sign language interpreter/job coach and I look forward to embarking on my new journey within the career field of IDT.

Hi everyone! My name is Courtney and I am a Junior studying dietetics here at Fontbonne . I am hoping to eventually work in pediatrics or with athletes. I am currently Secretary of SAFCS. I love running, walking my dogs, cheering on the Cardinals, and finding new adventures around St. Louis. I can't wait to share my adventures with you!